The lakes of the Great Rift Valley have ebbed and flowed through the ages, supporting life and livelihoods since their formation millions of years ago. Each of them has something unique to offer, but of the eight lakes found in Kenya, three of them have been recognized collectively and individually as important ecological sites.
Lake Elementaita, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Bogoria have several things in common. First is their location on the floor of the most extensive rift system in the world – though this is just the beginning of the allure of these water bodies.
Next is their unique names derived from local dialects. Elementaita originates from the Maasai word ‘muteita’ to mean dusty place. Also from the Maa dialect, Nakuru means “that which is scratched off bare”. Both names reference the scrublands that characterize the vegetation of these regions. Bogoria’s name comes from the Endorois community that lives along its banks. The mythical tale of how this lake was formed is a story of its own, and is the reason that the name Bogoria means “the place of the lost tribe”.
But their most important similarity is the alkalinity of their waters. This is attributed to their landlocked nature. With only a few shallow inlets and no outlets to filtrate these water bodies, they maintain a high concentration of dissolved salts that makes them saline. Very few species can live in such harsh conditions, but those that can, do so in spectacular abundance. This makes the lakes a network of the most significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of threatened and endangered species.
As a combined ecosystem, this habitat sustains 75% of the global population of the lesser flamingo making this one of the greatest ornithological spectacles on earth. Flamingoes exist elsewhere in Africa, but in nowhere near the concentrations found in these three lakes. This is with exception of Lake Natron in Tanzania where lesser flamingo concentration is only high during the breeding season. The lakes also provide a vital wintering ground for over 100 species of migratory birds.
And if that is not incredible enough, the series of hot springs and geysers along Lake Bogoria’s shores constitute the highest concentration of true geysers in Africa!
Though relatively small, the significance of these lakes to the sustenance of many plant and animal species cannot be denied. As such, they were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011. As described by UNESCO, “the natural setting of the lakes provides an exceptional experience of nature.”
Over recent years, the water levels of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes have been rising at an alarming level. These rises are directly associated with above-average rainfall, but human activity around the lakes is also to blame for the flooding. Changes in land use, encroachment of riparian zones, loss of wetlands, and urban growth have all impacted the water levels negatively. Schools, roads, homes, and even entire islands have been submerged by the lakes. Many of Lake Bogoria’s geysers are now under water, and there is a real danger of this soda lake merging with nearby freshwater Lake Baringo. The dilution of these saline waters will ultimately affect the production of cyanobacteria, the food sources of lesser flamingos, thereby disrupting their food chain and habitat.
Plan your next trip to these Rift Valley lakes and learn how you can take action to save this ecosystem:
http://www.kws.go.ke/lake-nakuru-national-park
https://soysambuconservancy.org/conservation/
